Wednesday 4 April 2018

Jillian Boissé is a married mum of five and lives in Dublin. She had taken part in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon many times and is lining up again this year, in support of the Irish Cancer society, for very significant reasons.

“I first took part in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon about five years ago. when I took up an interest in running. I always enjoy the day itself. The buzz around Dublin city is electric and the proud feeling you have running with thousands of women, knowing it's the biggest women's only event in the world is amazing. I always look forward to my celebratory drink afterwards! One of my favourite VHI Women’s Mini Marathons was the year when my mother took part in her first one with me, I was so proud of her. 

My mother had cancer 20 years ago and she would have been the one that we were concerned about because you often hear of cancer returning in people. I suppose subconsciously you think that there's no way both of your parents would be hit by cancer. However my father was diagnosed with cancer this time last year. It was a complete and utter shock to all of us as he had never been sick a day in his life.

My father had surgery last year and subsequently received the all clear a short time later, much to everyone's delight. He is one of nine children and was the first of his siblings to ever have a serious illness like cancer. I wasn’t going to do the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon last year, as I hadn’t been running, but I really wanted to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. 

Earlier this year, in January, after a diagnosis a mere 14 days earlier, my father lost his sister to pancreatic cancer. Her passing has left her family and extended family heartbroken. This year, raising money for the Irish Cancer Society is even more important to me than it was last year.

I'm really looking forward to this year's event in June, as I always do. Hopefully, the weather will be nice and dry! The training is going well, I live beside a big park so it's easy for me to get out often and go for a run.

The Irish Cancer Society has been a help to my family ever since my mother had cancer all those years ago. They were hugely supportive of her when she was diagnosed and that is why they are my charity of choice this year.”

The Irish Cancer society provides information and support to people diagnosed with cancer, as well as their families and friends. With one in three Irish people affected by cancer at some point, many participants choose to take part in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon, to raise funds for the charity in honour of a loved one.

For more information go to www.cancer.ie